HUNDREDS of East Lancashire workers are being urged to agree to a new pay package.

Remploy, the Government-owned firm which employs thousands of disabled workers including those at sites in Blackburn and Burnley, has negotiated a pay settlement with trade unions

The deal, a 2.5 per cent increase plus some extra bonuses, has been recommended by union leaders to Remploy's workforce, who will vote on whether to accept it.

Remploy said the increase would mean the vast majority of its staff making a weekly wage of around £169 a week (£4.64 per hour) with the highest-paid reaching £194 a week (£5.33 per hour).

This excludes additional allowances such as overtime and shift payments or travel allowances.

The package is likely to end a torrid period for the company, which employs 6,500 people directly plus a further 3,500 via assisted placements in other firms.

Its managers had caused anger after announcing a cost-cutting plan to shed 1,000 jobs through the merger of nine factories. The rationalisation was postponed last month.

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